Buffalo-Area Businesses Pay the Price for Bills’ Trip

The Buffalo Bills of the NFL have agreed to play 8 home games over the next 5 seasons in Toronto, Canada. Now at first glance you would not think of this as a big deal. Its only eight games over 5 years. However, local business in Buffalo make up to 70% of there monthly sales on Buffalo Bills game days. By taking these 8 games away from Buffalo they are greatly hurting the local business owners.

The Bills decision to play these games in Toronto was only logical. Rogers Communications, which is the largest wireless company in Canada and owner of the Rogers Centre paid the bills $78 million to play these games in city of Toronto. That price is twice what the teams operating income was last year. The Buffalo Bills play in a very small television market, actually its close to the smallest in the league. So they have to do something to ensure income so that they can stay in Buffalo.

I know that this is hurting the city of Buffalo, which is already hurting from the recession. The city has already had to dill with the closing of still mills and car plants. But i do believe that it is necessary for the Bills to do if they want to remain in Buffalo. If they do not do this they might not be able to continue operation.

What is your opinion on the matter? Do the Bills need to keep it in Buffalo to help local business or do they need to play these games in order to keep themselves afloat?